The Community Engagement and Internship Fair at Geneseo
Photo courtesy of Knight's Life Editor Regan Russell
Students alongside community members tabled during the event and spread information about their organizations.
On Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2024, the Office of Student Volunteerism and Community Engagement and Geneseo Career Design Center hosted the Community Engagement and Internship Fair in the MacVittie ballroom, located in the Union. The fair had many goals, most importantly though, to educate students about volunteer and internship opportunities in various models, including nonprofit organizations, government, and public service sectors.
The event lasted three hours, giving students ample time to browse the different tables and talk to organizations. All of the groups that attended were placed into the following categories: aging services, arts and culture, campus programs and departments, economic development, disaster management, educational services, food security/food justice, government Livingston County departments, government state, health services, social services, student organizations, sustainability, national service, and veterans affair.
Another key goal of the fair was to provide students with an opportunity to connect with the local community. Many students who attend Geneseo are not from the area and maybe hours away from the Geneseo community when they reside at their homes over breaks. This can cause students to feel disconnected from the community and just think of it as the place where their school is located. Finding a way to connect with the community helps both the students and the locals who live in Geneseo year-round.
One of the best ways to connect with the community is to volunteer alongside a local business or organization. Places like Tree Creations in Geneseo and Teresa House are great organizations always looking for volunteers, especially students, to help out. Both are located in Geneseo, and their contact information can be found easily online.
The fair also sought to expose students to the clubs and organizations on campus that focus on serving the community. These clubs are not new, but not all students know of the opportunities available to them through clubs that focus on service. One of these clubs is the Rotaract Club, a volunteerism club that works with both the community and campus to give back wherever viable. The club has no mandatory fees and no strict attendance requirements, making joining the club a very easy task. They meet on Tuesdays, weekly, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Union room 322.
Another organization on campus dedicated to service is the Greek organization Alpha Phi Omega. They are a national co-educational organization dedicated to service. Their cardinal principles are leadership, friendship, service, and taking new members in during both the spring and the fall semesters. Be on the lookout for their upcoming rush schedules if you are interested!
The final goal of this fair was to expose students to internship opportunities that could be available to them in the future. Internships are often a very stressful topic for students, especially when nearing the end of their college career. Attending fairs such as this one is a great way to expose yourself to internship opportunities that may be available for you the following semester or the following year.
The faculty and staff of Geneseo provide events like this to make the transition from college to the “real world” easier. This is why it is so important to take advantage of the opportunities SUNY Geneseo provides before you graduate.